More than $157 million in construction projects were approved in October across the Greater Des Moines area, signaling continued economic investment in central Iowa. Among the largest undertakings are new facilities planned for the Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) Ankeny campus.
DMACC Expands Training Capacity with New Facilities
The projects aim to modernize career training and increase enrollment in high-demand fields.
- Building permits were issued for a $5 million dental building and a $25.5 million Trades and Industry Center at DMACC’s Ankeny campus in October.
- The new dental building is expected to increase program enrollment capacity by 25% and open in January 2027.
- The Trades and Industry Center will replace aging buildings constructed in the 1960s and house five building trades programs, HVAC, diesel technology, fire science, and the Ford Training Center.
- Overall, 21 projects received permits in October, valued at over $157.2 million, and 138 projects have been approved since January, totaling just over $788 million.
Construction began in October on a 26,000-square-foot dental building and a 72,000-square-foot Trades and Industry Center on the DMACC Ankeny campus. The dental building, valued at just over $5 million, will boost the program’s enrollment capacity by 25%, according to a statement released by the school. The new space will feature simulation labs, modern classrooms, and a public clinic.
The larger Trades and Industry Center, with a permit value of $25.5 million, will modernize hands-on training for skilled trades. The center will consolidate five of DMACC’s building trades programs, along with HVAC, diesel technology, and fire science, and will also house the Ford Training Center. This new facility will replace Buildings 14 and 20, which have served the college since the 1960s.
Urbandale Sees Major Residential Development
Beyond DMACC, a significant residential project is moving forward in Urbandale. A building permit was issued in October for The Loop apartments and townhomes, located at 10600 Plum Drive. The project, developed by Ankeny-based Caliber Co., has been in the planning stages for over three years.
The Loop, a four-story building with a brick and glass exterior, will include 215 apartment units, 124 underground parking spaces, and over 5,000 square feet of commercial space. The 10-acre project is situated just east of the Home Depot in Urbandale and is valued at over $39 million. The design echoes similar multifamily developments by Caliber Co., including The Standard in Ankeny and West Light in Waukee.
In total, 21 building permits were issued in October for projects across Polk County and 13 other communities. Since January, a total of 138 new projects have been permitted in the Greater Des Moines area, representing a combined value of just over $788 million.
